This past month, Union County 4-H members were hard at work preparing and rehearsing their speeches for the County Public Speaking Contest.
Competitors and their families gathered at Horace Maynard Middle School recently to hear a variety of speeches on everything from 4-H projects to historical figures and personal experiences.
The 4-H organization believes public speaking is a vital skill for our youth. Through contests like these, 4-H members learn to communicate effectively, build self-esteem and sharpen a variety of other skills such as organization, critical thinking and research.
Union County 4-H agent Olivia Howard tries to stress the importance of this skill to her 4-H members knowing that no matter what path they choose in life, there will come a time when they must address a group of their peers in a setting very similar to public speaking.
While competing in public speaking offers a great way to develop marketable skills, it also provides opportunities for first place winners to advance to either the Big 9 Sub-Regional Public Speaking contest for 4th-8th graders or the Eastern Region Public Speaking contest for 9th- 12th graders.
Those attending the Eastern Region contest can also win their way to the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest held during 4-H Congress in March where they will compete for cash prizes and scholarships.
The following 4-H members placed first in their grade and have received an invitation to represent Union County at their respective contests: 11th grade – Jonathan Tindell, 10th – Meradeth Whitley, 9th – Gracie Tindell, 7th – Silas Whitley, 6th – Taryn Reynolds, 5th – Truett Davis, 4th – Kelsey Ray.
We would also like to acknowledge the rest of our participants for their hard work. They are: Jeremiah Tindell, Reighlan Helton, Lexxi Cummings, Kenlee Brooks, Clay Korth, Makinzee Eubanks, Carson Hayes, Andrew Jones, Crete Cooke, Avery Branscomb, Presley Lay, Carter Roderick, James Whitley, Landon Jessee, Bree Williams, Jepson Haynes, Scarlett Hughes, Aubree Cox, Ava Chamberlain and Nicole Collins.
A special thank you is also in order for all of the 4-H members, parents and volunteers who helped make all this possible whether they were registering participants, judging speeches or supporting their 4-H member.
We look forward to another great contest next year.
If you are interested in helping with public speaking in the future, please contact the Extension Office.
Also wrapping up this month was the 4-H Poster Contest where 4-H members express their artistic abilities while promoting their favorite club.
Posters are entered into the local contest during club time and all blue-ribbon winners advance on to the county contest where three posters are then selected to move on to the regional contest.
A select few are then sent to the State 4-H Poster Contest to represent the Eastern Region and compete for cash prizes. After receiving several posters from the schools of Union County, our judge was able to narrow the entries down to three winners who will represent Union County in the regional contest.
Placing third in the county contest is Natalie Yerdon from Maynardville Elementary, second place goes to Briley Cantrell of Luttrell Elementary, and our first place winner is Coty Webb from Maynardville Elementary.
The community also had the chance to cast their votes through Union County Extension’s Facebook page to determine the top ten posters to be on display at the County Public Speaking Contest as well as a People’s Choice award for the poster with the most likes.
After several shares and likes, Briley Cantrell of Luttrell Elementary won the People’s Choice award in addition to her second place overall. We would also like to congratulate the following 4-H members for receiving Top 10 Poster awards: Charlee Rutherford, Baylor Wilson, Lynnsi Bailey, Braxton Baker, Allie Muncey, Eli Casillas, Cole Turner, Presley Lay, Levi Raper and Carter Roderick.